U of I bomb squad detonates WWII-era grenade

CATLIN, Ill. (AP) — The University of Illinois bomb squad has detonated a World War II explosive in eastern Illinois.

The News-Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/12w9Zjk) that a Catlin resident bought a Japanese hand grenade at a rummage sale. The man showed the grenade to a friend who said it might explode. The pair called police.

Catlin Police Chief Cash Cook says police notified the bomb squad Wednesday night. Bomb squad members used a robot to remove the grenade from a truck and take it to a vacant lot. Squad members dug a hole in the ground and put the grenade and an explosive in the hole. Then they detonated both items.

Cook says the explosion shook homes but no one was injured and no damage was reported. Catlin is about six miles southwest of Danville.